SAynar Urges Environmentalists to Construct Political Alliances

SAynar Urges Environmentalists to Construct Political Alliances

Article excerpt

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) _ Defeated Oklahoma Congressman Mike
Synar is warning environmentalists that they must build political
alliances to face the hostile Congress that came out of Tuesday's
elections.

At least some of his international audience scorned his
advice, saying the political process is getting them nowhere.

"We've come up against the limits of the legislative system,"
said one forest activist.

"Reprogram yourself and join us," said another.

"I thought I was one of your friends, and I seem like one of
the enemies here," Synar responded Thursday with good-natured
irony. Nevertheless, most of the 125 or so people in the room
applauded him warmly when he concluded his remarks.

Synar, a Democrat and environmentalist who was defeated in the
primary election, spoke at the opening of the Temperate Forest
Conference at the University of Montana. The conference is
sponsored by the Missoula-based Native Forest Network.

"We do not have the minds and hearts of the American people"
on many environmental issues, Synar warned. "Until we get
broad-based support, we are not going to win on these issues.

"We must engage people in this democracy," he said, noting
that only about one in three eligible voters in America actually
voted.

Some in the audience noted that Congress passed no significant
environmental legislation in the last two years, despite
Democratic majorities in the Senate and House, a Democratic
president and a vice president who ardently champions the
environmental movement.

"Where the rubber meets the road, we have not had the votes"
to pass environmental legislation, Synar said. …